How are Park Assist Cameras diagnosed?
A frequent complaint with a park assist camera is a cloudy image. A technician will check the camera to make sure the lens is not compromised with dirt or other debris. From there, diagnosis depends on the type of problem with the camera. A camera that does not turn on may have lost its power supply. A technician will reference an electrical diagram to locate and test the wiring to the camera. For instance, on some vehicles, the wires run under a seat in the car and get caught on the seat track. These issues are model-specific. A black screen when the vehicle is shifted into park can be caused by a misaligned camera. It can also be caused by a setting in the digital menu that has been switched "off." A technician will attempt to pinpoint whether the issue is simply a setting, or if the cause is a broken camera mount, a faulty camera, a software issue, or something else. Access to vehicle specific repair data, and even recall bulletins, will aid greatly in the diagnostic procedure.
How is the Park Assist Camera replaced?
The challenge with park assist camera replacement (as with many electronic elements in a vehicle) is less with the actual replacement procedure, and more with correct diagnosis of the system. If the park assist camera is found to be faulty and it needs to be replaced, a technician will simply disconnect the camera's electrical connection, remove the retainer(s), pull out the old camera, and install the new one. If the camera is an aftermarket camera (rather than factory-installed), programming may be necessary. On some vehicles it may be necessary to remove the rear bumper in order to replace the camera, making the repair more difficult and time consuming.
RepairPal Recommendations for Park Assist Camera issues
If there is a performance issue with the park assist camera, such as a cloudy image or a black screen, it is wise to first check to make sure that the camera lens is clear of dirt, snow, ice, or other debris that might block or obscure the image. If the display goes blank when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, check the user settings in the display menu to make sure that the park assist camera option is turned "on." If these simple fixes do not solve the problem, consider taking it to a repair professional for proper diagnosis and repair.